Collard Dragonfly accident near Big Sping, Texas, August 4, 2008
On August 4, 2008 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Collard Dragonfly, registered N793TW, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Big Sping, Texas (Big Spring Mc Mahon-Wrinkle airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of aircraft control due to inadvertent penetration of a dust devil.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2008 · about 9:00 pm local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Big Sping, Texas · Big Spring Mc Mahon-Wrinkle · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Collard Dragonfly
- Registration
- N793TW · registry record · serial 089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported departing the airport in "challenging wind and [thermal] conditions." An automated weather reporting facility on the airport reported winds 50 degrees from runway heading at 11 knots gusting to 19 knots. After six successful touch-and-gos, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a seventh approach. While turning base to final the pilot experienced a loss of aircraft control and impacted terrain. The pilot reported that dust devils were "prevalent in the area at that time."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Dust devil/whirlwind › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 630 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 630 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 64 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 3701 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BPG Big Sping TX at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:26 pm from BPG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N793TW on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Hirth 3701 12 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Big Spring/Mc Mahon-Wrinkle Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,235 since 1982 · 1,056 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,945 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DFW08CA203.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.